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Perennials add color and texture to the garden during the growing season. During the cooler months of winter, these plants die back to the ground, only to renew again in the spring. Perennials grow in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors, from 8-foot-tall, purple-blooming germander to tiny cranesbill geraniums that produce deep magenta flowers. If your planting site receives less than four hours of direct sun each day, choose flowering perennials that thrive in partial shade exposures.

Early Spring

For early spring color, bergenias (Bergenia cordifolia) produce dark pink flowers atop lustrous, large foliage. These Siberian natives are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 8 and thrive in partial shade. They prefer moist, fertile soil. Hellebores (Helleborus spp.) also bloom in spring; lenten rose is the earliest to show its white and pink blossoms. These perennials are hardy in zones 4 to 9 and grow to 18 inches tall. They thrive in partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.

Spring

For a bright golden splash that lightens up shady corners of the garden, plant yellow-blooming spurge (Euphorbia spp.). This perennial grows from 12 to 18 inches tall and is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. It prefers partial shade and tolerates moist to dry soil. Cranesbill geraniums (Geranium sanguineum) grow well in partial shade and moist soil. Hardy in zones 3 to 8, these perennials bloom in late spring with red-pink blossoms. They grow from 9 to 12 inches tall and produce beak-shaped fruits.

Summer

Bear's breeches (Acanthus mollis) blooms in midsummer with spikes of white and purple flowers. Hardy in USDA zones 7 to 10, this 4-foot-tall perennial thrives in partial shade and well-drained soil. Another summer bloomer, the hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) grows to 3 feet tall and is hardy in zones 5 to 9. This North American native grows in partial shade and prefers sites with moist, well-drained soil. It produces pink, blue and purple flowers that attract pollinators. The seaside daisy (Erigeron spp.) produces orange, pink and white flowers with yellow centers in summer. Hardy in zones 2 to 8, this North American native grows to 2 feet tall and thrives in well-drained or even dry soil.

Fall

For fall color, plant asters (Aster spp.) These versatile perennials come in a range of varieties -- from 12 inches to 4 feet tall – and bloom late in the season with purple, blue, pink and white flowers. They are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8 and grow well in partial shade and well-drained soil. The white gaura (Gaura lindheimi) also blooms into fall. This perennial grows from 2 to 4 feet tall and produces white flowers that age to pink. It’s hardy in zones 5 to 9 and grows best in fertile, well-drained sites.

About the Author

Based in the Southwest, Linsay Evans writes about a range of topics, from parenting to gardening, nutrition to fitness, marketing to travel. Evans holds a Master of Library and Information Science and a Master of Arts in anthropology.